Manis, Pedis, & Massages

Spa treatments. An essential ingredient for a perfect day of pampering, but certainly not something that I ever thought would be part of ministry on the World Race! However, my month in the Philippines has proven differently and I have never been so happy to be wrong. 

                                    Foot spa                                                  Genalyn giving me a pedicure

When we arrived at the beginning of January and settled in for orientation at Kids International Ministries with Jeff Long (founder of KIM), I was excited to learn that they had their very own salon and spa on site.  Josie, the eldest of the Long family children, has a heart for abandoned and abused women and girls.  After earning her comsotology license, she sought out six women from the streets in the slums surrounding the KIM base to be trained and certified in massage, nail care, and hair to work in the J Salon & Spa.

Tilda, Estrallita, Genalyn, Yolly, Eula, and Analyn.  These are the women who work to feed and provide for their families. Jeff encouraged us to frequent the spa as much as possible, because it too is ministry! He called it "suffering for Jesus"…tongue in cheek of course because obviously there's not much suffering going on during this type of ministry.

The salon and spa offers a range of services at what we, as Americans, think is just plain cheap.  The exhcange rate here is about 40 pisos to $1, so a manicure is just under $4 and an hour long massage is $7.50. Can you see why it's been hard for me to resist??

Paying for a service, like a massage or manicure, feeds the family of one of the ladies who works in the salon and spa.  As I have gone several times over the past few weeks, I have been able to get to know some of the women and hear parts of their stories. They are so grateful for the training and job given to them.  Some expressed their thankfulness for restoration and a renewed sense of purpose through their work. They light up talking about their children and grandchildren because they know they are helping to provide and give them a future that wouldn't be possible without the J Salon & Spa. I just love how these women have been empowered and equipped to work, to be confident in their abilities, and earn a living to support their families.